Problems with Drug Prescription; Impact of Educational Intervention

Abstract

AIM & OBJECTIVE: To study the prescribing patterns and impact of educational intervention on the prescribers MATERIAL &METHODS: On approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee, Prescribing doctors (Assistant professors, Associate Professors & Professors) were included in the study as participants. They were subjected to the study in two phases that included a pre-test evaluation, followed by educational intervention and post- test evaluation in both phases of the study. In the rst phase the participants were educated on essential medicines, rational use of medicines, appropriateness and Pharmacoepidemiology, while the second educational session emphasized on use of Branded Vs Generic Medicines, Fixed Dose Combinations and Adverse Drug Reactions. Further the data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis. OBSERVATIONS & RESULTS: In phase – I of the study, on pre lecture evaluation, the mean score of participants (30), was 6.07±1.86, which was found to be signicantly (p < 0.0001), increased by 40% (8.47±1.17). Similarly in phase –II the signicant (p< 0.0001) rise was found by 86% with post-test evaluation. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that a regular training program is essential to periodically update the prescribers, dispensers, public and the patients on meticulous use of medicines to prevent the drug related problems